Science Friday (Host: I. Flatow)

May 17, 2019 In the latest chapter of our Degrees of Change series, saltwater intrusion and sea level rise are the new normal for two communities along the east coast. Plus, why do we all scream?

May 10, 2019 A new UN report says human interventions are the cause of a global biodiversity crisis. Plus, a new book looks at the data supporting your parenting practices—or not.

May 3, 2019 What happens if you hook up a real brain to artificial intelligence? Plus, how AT&T teamed up with scientists at Argonne National Laboratory to build a climate map of the U.S.

April 26, 2019 The first episode of the new SciFri series Degrees of Change takes a look at how cities around the world are taming floodwaters, and turning them into freshwater resources. Plus, why scientists have long been drawn to creative takes on science—and why creativity is central to scientific thought.

April 19, 2019 The next generation of wireless is on its way. Experts explain the science behind the new tech, and why some are cautioning a slower rollout. Plus, researchers have discovered a new species of ancient human—but its placement on the human family tree is still up for debate.

April 12, 2019 Event Horizon Telescope scientists break down the first image of supermassive black hole and explore what lies beyond in black hole science. Plus, how astronaut Scott Kelly’s gene expression changed after a year in space.

April 5, 2019 Scientists tap into how trees move gallons of fluids from the ground to the atmosphere every day. Plus, a conversation with climate-focussed presidential candidate Jay Inslee.

March 29, 2019 Astronomers are trying to figure out how fast the universe is expanding. But two approaches are giving different answers. And for National Poetry Month, we examine science that waxes poetic.

March 22, 2019 The new face of the U.S. House Science Committee is putting her foot down over partisan bickering over science. And physician Eric Topol talks about how AI can allow your more quality time with your doctor.

March 15, 2019 Students across the world join together in the Youth Climate Strike to protest government inaction against climate change Plus, primatologist Frans de Waal catalogues the vast spectrum of emotional behaviors in animals.

March 8, 2019 NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine talks about agency ambitions beyond planet Earth. Plus, the story of how our skeletons evolved to look they way they do. And why gene therapy—not bone marrow transplants—could be one piece in the puzzle of neutralizing HIV worldwide.

March 1, 2019 Scientists are creating unnatural base pairs to better understand DNA—and create new medicines and fuels. Plus, a new book tells the story of the engineering missteps that led to the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl.

February 22, 2019 Four telescope projects have been nominated to be NASA’s next great observatory. But which will take home the coveted award? Plus, why do grapes spark in the microwave?

February 15, 2019 In the final installment of the winter Book Club, we wrap up exploring N.K. Jemisin’s “The Fifth Season.” Plus, materials scientist Mark Miodownik takes a look at the science behind many of the liquids we encounter every day.

February 08, 2019 We talk the history of buttons and how they’ve changed our relationship with technology. Plus, a project aims to collect and organize maps of the Grand Canyon to help tell its geologic and cultural stories.

February 01, 2019 We reflect on the history and future of coding and technology in art. Plus, scientists study the viscosity and flow of searing-hot lava…from a parking lot.

January 25, 2019 How has the field of weather prediction improved over the past 100 years, and what challenges do forecasters still face? Plus, dozens of doctors have failed to disclose their industry ties to journals.

January 18, 2019 The SciFri Book Club tackles earthquakes and human disaster response with N.K. Jemisin’s apocalyptic ‘The Fifth Season.’ And a new play introduces us to the enslaved women whose bodies paved the way for modern gynecology.

January 11, 2019 Did you know a marathon runner’s heart is built differently from a weightlifter’s? We look at how exercise shapes and conditions your heart. Plus, a look at the effect of the partial government shutdown on scientists.

January 4, 2019 We celebrate winter birds and the people who love them. Plus, how does the movement of crowds change when they behave predictably, and when they don’t?

December 28, 2018 We recap the year in science news, from wildfires to space probes to CRISPR. Plus the story of a revolutionary physician, and the next target of the New Horizons space probe.

December 21, 2018 Does double-dipping a chip really infect the dip? Is the five-second rule real? Plus, what the Trump administration’s crack down on fetal cell research means for the field.

December 14, 2018 The James Webb Space Telescope is a decade late and billions of dollars over budget. But astronomers are already setting their sights on its successors. Plus, second-grader Nina Del Bosque wants to know about stinging caterpillars and their role in the ecosystem.

December 7, 2018 Ira and a panel of guests round up their favorite science books from 2018. Plus, with Congress poised to legalize growing hemp, how does a ‘new’ plant become a thriving agricultural product?